Electromagnetically controlled fluid-operating valve

ABSTRACT

A fluid-operating valve, wherein a magnetically controlled core shifts a flap valve between its operative and inoperative positions. The side of the flap valve facing the channel in which it is seated communicates with the opposite side through ports opening inside a closed bellows-shaped chamber extending coaxially with the flap valve and the average diameter of which registers with that of the seat of the flap valve.

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Inventor Harald Stampfll Petit-Saconnex, Switzerland Appl. No. 881,167Filed Dec. 1, 1969 Patented Dec. 14,1971 Assignee Lucifer S.A. CheminLucifer Carouge-Genevu, Switzerland Priority Dec. 23, 1968 Switzerland19127/68 ELECTROMAGNETICALLY CONTROLLED lFlLlUllD-OPERATING VALVE 1Claim, 1 Drawing Fig.

lint. C1 F1611 31/06 Field of Search 251/129,

[5 6] References Cited! UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,331,503 10/1943 Ray25l/l29X 3,194,499 7/1965 Noakes et a1. 251/282 X 3,319,649 5/1967Cummins 251/129 X 3,214,134 10/1965 Noakes et al.. 251/282 3,441,2464/1969 Lauppe et a1. 251/129 X Primary Examiner-Arnold RosenthalAtt0rneys- Emory L. Groff and Emory L. Groff, Jr.

ABSTRACT: A fluid-operating valve, wherein a magnetically controlledcore shifts a flap valve between its operative and inoperativepositions. The side of the flap valve facing the channel in which it isseated communicates with the opposite side through ports opening insidea closed bellows-shaped chamber extending coaxially with the flap valveand the average diameter of which registers with that of the seat of theflap valve.

PATENWD [1mm] INVENTOR ATTORNEY lELEC'llliiUll/HAGNETKCALLW CONTMUILMEIDWWW OPERATING VALVE The present invention has for its object anelectromagnetically controlled fluid-operating valve of the typeincluding a flap valve connected mechanically with a magnetic coreadapted to move under the action of a magnetic field, said valvecooperating with a seat for opening and closing, as required, apassageway for the fluid in accordance with the position assumed by thecore. Such a valve also includes pressure-compensating means defining achamber extending above said flap valve so as to balance the forcesacting on the opposite sides of the flap valve. One wall of said chambercomprises a bellows-shaped tube fluidtightly connecting said flap valvewith the valve body.- ln all known valves of this type, the compensationof the forces produced by the pressure of fluid on the flap valve arenot obtained to a sufficient extent so that the electric power requiredfor ensuring a proper operation of the valve is comparatively high. ifthe resultant of the forces exerted on the flap by the fluid pressurewere zero, the force to be applied to the flap would be very small sinceit would be sufficient to overcome frictional forces which may bereduced to a very low level and to exert on the flap valve the forcerequired for ensuring fluidtightness between the latter and its seat.

The present invention has for its object to obtain as closely aspossible such ideal conditions in a valve of the type described.

it has for further and more specific object a valve of the type referredto, wherein the axis of the bellows-shaped tube is aligned with the axisof the valve seat while the average diameter of sad bellows-shaped tubeis substantially equal to that of the seat.

' The accompanying drawing illustrates diagrammatically and by way ofexample a preferred embodiment of said invention. The single FIG. ofsaid drawing is a longitudinal cross section of the electromagneticallycontrolled fluid-operated valve.

As shown, the valve includes a body ll provided with a fluid inputchannel 2 and with a fluid output channel 3. it also includes a flapvalve 4, connected to a rod 5, said rod being connected by means of apin 6 with a movable ferromagnetic core 7 sliding inside the tube 8.

The movable core 7 is surrounded by an electric winding 9 enclosed by acap 10 and is urged into the position illustrated by a spring 11. Theflap valve 4 is provided with an axial longitudinal blind bore 12 whichextends inside the rod 5 and opens at its end into two diametricallyopposed radial output ports along the periphery of said rod. I

The lower end of the flap valve terminates with three guidingprojections 13 fitted within the bored output channel 3 during themovements of the flap valve, whereby the latter is accurately guided.

The flap valve 4 is further more provided with two fluidtight packingslid and 115 made of an elastomeric material such as that of the knowntype sold under the registered trademark Viton." A bellows-shaped tube116 which is connected in a fluidtight manner to the upper end of theflap valve d and to the upper portion of valve body 1, surrounds the rod5 carrying said flap valve and defines a chamber 17 extending above theflap valve.

The lower end of the bellows-shaped tube 116 is clamped over the packing115 by means of an intermediate ring W fitted along a circular line of adiameter corresponding to that of the seat. The upper end of saidbellows-shaped tube is secured to the body 11 of the valve by means of abearing plate 20. The axis of the bellows-shaped tube i6 is in alignmentwith the axis of the valve seat 211 and the average diameter of saidtube M5 is substantially equal to that of the seat The bellows-shapedtube is preferably made of stainless steel when the valve is used as avacuum-controlling valve. For other purposes it may be made for instanceof a bronze and beryllium alloy.

in the position illustrated, the core 7 is in its lowermost position andthe flap valve d engages its seat 211 so that no connection isestablished between the input. and output channels 2 and 3.

When the valve is in its open position, the core 7 draws the rod dupwardly together with the flap valve 4 so that a connection isestablished between the channels 2 and 3.

The fluid pressure prevailing in the channel 3 underneath the flap valveis transmitted through the longitudinal bore 112 to the upper chamber117 defined by the bellows-shaped tube lid. it is apparent that thisprovides a complete balance between the pressures inside the chamber 117and in'the channel 3, which pressures act on the opposite surfaces ofthe flap valve d. Thus the control of the valve requires only a reducedpower which is just sufficient for overcoming the reduced force of thespring ill ensuring fluidtightness between the packing M and the seat211.

By reason of the balanced flap valve thus described, said valve has theadvantage of being possibly used for flow of the fluid in eitherdirection as required.

The intermediate ring 119 is provided preferably with a longitudinaldischarge port 21 in order to ensure a speedy balance between thepressures inside the chamber 117 and the annular space or channel 23extending between the ring 19 and the flap valve 4i.

What is claimed is:

l. An electromagnetically operated valve assembly for controlling theflpw of a fluid through a body including an inlet opening, an outletopening and a main chamber therebetween, said assembly comprising a flapvalve member including a rod dispowd substantially with said chamber, amovable magnetic core within said body, an electromagne't surrounding aportion of said magnetic core, means connecting said valve rod to saidmagnetic core, a valve seat adjacent said outlet opening and engageableby said valve member to control the passage of fluid through said mainchamber, resilient means normally urging said valve member against saidvalve seat, a bellowsshaped chamber within said main chamber, the meandiameter of said bellows-shaped chamber being substantially equal to themeans diameter of said seat, said bellows-shaped chamber surrounding aportion of said rod, a clamping ring at the lower end of saidbellows'shaped chamber, said clamping ring including an annular channelon its lower surface, the lower outer edge of said clamping ringdisposed in sealing engagement with the top surface of said valvemember, an opening in said clamping ring communicating with saidbellowsshaped chamber and said annular channel, said rod having alongitudinal bore therein communicating with said bellowsshaped chamberand communicating with said main chamber when said valve is in openposition, whereby when said electromagnet is energized said magneticcore and said valve member are moved away from said valve seat to permitthe flow of fluid through the main chamber of said body, the fluidpressure prevailing in said main chamber beneath said valve membercausing a portion of said fluid to flow through the longitudinal bore insaid rod into said bellows-shaped chamber and into the annular channelin said clamping ring thereby providing a balance between the pressuresin said last-mentioned chamber and said outlet opening which pressuresacton the opposite surfaces of said valve member.

i 1 10! i a

1. An electromagnetically operated valve assembly for controlling theflow of a fluid through a body including an inlet opening, an outletopening and a main chamber therebetween, said assembly comprising a flapvalve member including a rod disposed substantially within said chamber,a movable magnetic core within said body, an electromagnet surrounding aportion of said magnetic core, means connecting said valve rod to saidmagnetic core, a valve seat adjacent said outlet opening and engageableby said valve member to control the passage of fluid through said mainchamber, resilient means normally urging said valve member against saidvalve seat, a bellows-shaped chamber within said main chamber, the meandiameter of said bellows-shaped chamber being substantially equal to themean diameter of said seat, said bellows-shaped chamber surrounding aportion of said rod, a clamping ring at the lower end of saidbellows-shaped chamber, said clamping ring including an annular channelon its lower surface, the lower outer edge of said clamping ringdisposed in sealing engagement with the top surface of said valvemember, an opening in said clamping ring communicating with saidbellowsshaped chamber and said annular channel, said rod having alongitudinal bore therein communicating with said bellows-shaped chamberand communicating with said main chamber when said valve is in openposition, whereby when said electromagnet is energized said magneticcore and said valve member are moved away from said valve seat to permitthe flow of fluid through the main chamber of said body, the fluidpressure prevailing in said main chamber beneath said valve membercausing a portion Of said fluid to flow through the longitudinal bore insaid rod into said bellowsshaped chamber and into the annular channel insaid clamping ring thereby providing a balance between the pressures insaid lastmentioned chamber and said outlet opening which pressures acton the opposite surfaces of said valve member.